Where exactly is the starting line for the WDW half??

[lornak]

We are trying to figure out where to stay for the half. I have been planning on a monorail resort all along as I have heard that it makes for the quickest route to the starting line. But today a friend texted me from WDW and said she went out to the starting line and it is within walking distance from OKW. Can anyone confirm this??? Any details would be appreciated!! TIA!

 

[Calcio]

Hello lornak

The starting corrals for both the WDW Full and Half Marathons are on EPCOT Center Drive, almost directly to the East of the EPCOT ball, and directly to the West of Old Key West.

It is possible, easy even, to walk from OKW, POFQ and POR to the starting line. From OKW you walk out of the resort, and turn left on Disney Vacation Club Way. From this point you will see the search lights and hear the music and commotion, so just walk straight ahead to the starting corrals. Go over the small bridge over the canal, and you are there.

We have done this from OKW and POFQ, and they are both very quick and easy walks, much faster and easier than getting to the staging area in the EPCOT parking lot, and then walking with the crowds (tight and slow crowds) to the starting corrals.

Good luck, and we may see you out there, as we're coming over from POFQ in 2014.

Craig

 

[Ariel484]

Monorail transport to the start line is super easy...now that I've done it once I'm not sure I can go back. Sorry, bank account.

FYI - Despite the fact that a lot of people do it, Disney does not endorse walking to the starting line. Personally, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this also bypass the bag check-in? That may not be a problem for some, but if you have something to check, then it doesn't make sense to walk to the start line from one of these resorts.

Also, it's very dark at 5am when you are walking over, which is probably one of the many reasons Disney doesn't want you to do it.

 

[lornak]

Thank you so much for these details!! I really appreciate it! We are planning on doing the Race Retreat. Would this factor in to our route at all???

 

[Calcio]

For the Race Retreat you will need to take the bus transportation from OKW to the staging area at EPCOT. The bus will drop you off in the EPCOT parking lot, a bit over to West side of the lot, and then you'll walk over to the Race Retreat tent. Just follow the mob away from the bus drop off and once you're in the staging area veer a bit to your left and you'll see the RR tent.

The RR tent is a nice, warm, and dry spot to warm up and get ready for the race, and they'll have drinks, bagels, bananas, cream cheese and peanut butter before the race, and a much smaller bag check, plus small porty-potty lines. After the race they'll have a full buffet breakfast, which tastes so darn good after 13.1 or 26.2 miles.

Enjoy.

 

[cewait]

For those interested here is a map from OKW to the Start...

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/65341608/

My observations (some repeated)

Disney has turned a blind eye to the fact that folks do walk from certain resorts to the start. However, for the first time, the 2013 race program issued a warning against doing this. I am not sure that Disney would/could ever enforce a do not walk policy, but be forewarned that the mouse is aware and is looking. I guess I should also say that in 03 or 04 I heard that folks were turned back for a while at the canal crossing.

If one needs to check a bag or has a retreat pass, I would suggest taking the bus from OKW or come on the monorail. One can work their way back to the staging area but if you are coming across after runners are released to the corrals you are going to burn lots of energy trying to swim upstream. You could leave with enough time to get to the staging area prior to the releasing of the masses, but that seems to defeat the purpose of walking.

One still must take a bus back home to the OKW resort. The gate to the path one would walk back from the finish area to OKW is gated.

If one walks to the start, you need to have your bib ready to show at the canal. Only runners will be allowed to pass. Also note that there is a small construction project on Vacation Club Way that makes walking the road dangerous at best. It is in the area of the cast member entrance that I direct you through and is on both sides of the road. I will keep an eye on the project…it seems to be something that connects the POR and OKW resort services (i.e. laundry)

If you do walk, please use caution and walk against traffic. The intersection you will be crossing is also a local runner kiss and drop spot as well as a cast member bypass. There will be some traffic from folks who do not regularly drive through that area.

Other resorts?...

Yes, POR is also a walkable resort to the start. I would use a cast member back road rather than walking along Bonnet Creek for the traffic reasons listed. I have a map if interested… though the construction project listed above may make this off road path impassable.

Boardwalk, BC, Swan, Dolphin, YC?? NO. Again, NO one cannot walk to the start. The I-Gate is not opened for runner access through Epcot. One must take the bus from these resorts. One may decide to walk from the finish to the resorts but remember that you must also use a pass to do this.

Hope this helps

 

[Calcio]

Thank you Charles

As always, your comments and information are very helpful. I did not notice the warning about walking to the starting line in the 2013 race program, but I'll look through the program carefully this year to see if the runDisney folks have (1) omitted the warning, (2) retained the same warning, or (3) kicked it up a notch, or perhaps even changed it to a clearly stated ban.

Craig

 

[cewait]

Craig,

I would still plan on the walk... I think it hard to say you cannot walk down a public road. Though, I guess they have control over the canal crossing with the road permit.

I see the warning more like the year rD attempted to control headphones at the USATF's insistence. They issued their strict policy the same day they published a photo of the second place Princess runner with ear plugs in. Their attorneys have put a foot down and the short paragraph added.

Saying this, plan on looking at the program for 14 and possibly getting out earlier than the last minute for the start of the half. I know that the rank and file have voted that I do not stay at OKW for the foreseeable future so I will be looking from corral C

 

[paxsarah]

Thank you so much for these details!! I really appreciate it! We are planning on doing the Race Retreat. Would this factor in to our route at all???

To speak very directly to this question, the race retreat would nullify any benefit of staying at OKW to be close enough to walk to the corrals. It's basically either/or. Bus to the race retreat or walk to the corrals.

 

[Calcio]

I am a Corral C kind of guy as well Charles, or at least that's where they've placed me in prior years, so maybe we'll cross paths in January.

My first WDW race was in 2004, and after fighting my way to the starting corrals from the Boardwalk, I looked over to the right and saw many people coming from POFQ and OKW, at the very last minute, and they stepped in and started with us. I thought to myself, "those are the smart people," and in 2005 I followed their lead.

Unless the program states that walkers will be stopped, I will do it again this coming January. But I'll also take your advice and come out a bit earlier than in prior years, to adjust for the crowds and traffic.

Happy training in the next 6 months, and good luck.

Craig